Council commits $500K to prevent crime, boost neighborhoods

Columbus City Council announced $500,000 has been set aside in the 2018 operating budget to help prevent crime and strengthen neighborhoods.
“Columbus City Council is investing in strategies to prevent violent crime without handcuffs,” said Council President Shannon Hardin.
The funds will support work in four key areas: violence intervention, youth employment, resident empowerment and connections between residents and resources.
“This plan is an all-hands-on-deck approach that calls on institutions, businesses and community members to enlist themselves in breaking the cycle of violence,” said Councilmember Elizabeth Brown.
The first components of the initiative to roll out are those that relate to expansion of the Applications for Purpose, Pride and Success (APPS) program.
Eric Brandon, Columbus Recreation and Parks Department’s Assistant Director of Youth & Family Development, was on hand to talk about the impact the funding will have on APPS which includes creating two new, full-time violence intervention staff positions. This added capacity will connect more at-risk youth to case management, summer jobs and support services in order to address the risk factors that can leave them vulnerable to gangs and negative influences within the community.
The funding also expands APPS’s Cap City Nights Festival series. The summer events foster safe and healthy community relationships by bringing together neighbors, worshipers, service providers, and business owners. In addition to expanded programming at each Cap City Night Festival this summer, a new festival will occur in the West Side’s Wedgewood neighborhood.